U.S. patent application number 11/610615 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-10 for system, method and computer program product for collaborative background music among portable communication devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to OUTLAND RESEARCH, LLC. Invention is credited to Louis B. Rosenberg.
Application Number | 20070106726 11/610615 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38029190 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070106726 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rosenberg; Louis B. |
May 10, 2007 |
System, Method and Computer Program Product for Collaborative
Background Music among Portable Communication Devices
Abstract
A system, method and computer program product for enabling a
plurality of users engaged in real-time voice communications over a
wireless communications link to collaboratively select one or more
musical media files and to jointly listen to the collaboratively
selected musical media in approximate synchronicity as a mutually
perceivable background musical stream. The background musical
stream is audibly output to each of the plurality of users in audio
combination with the exchanged real-time voice communications such
that the exchanged voice communications is intelligible to each
user along with the background musical stream. Each user is
situated proximal to a portable communication device that enables
the real-time voice communications, the collaborative selection of
musical media, and the audio combination of voice communications
and musical media.
Inventors: |
Rosenberg; Louis B.; (Pismo
Beach, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICE OF PHILIP A STEINER
846 HIGUERA STREET
SUITE 4
SAN LUIS OBISPO
CA
93401
US
|
Assignee: |
OUTLAND RESEARCH, LLC
P.O.Box 3537
Pismo Beach
CA
93448
|
Family ID: |
38029190 |
Appl. No.: |
11/610615 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11223368 |
Sep 9, 2005 |
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11610615 |
Dec 14, 2006 |
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11267079 |
Nov 3, 2005 |
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11610615 |
Dec 14, 2006 |
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11533037 |
Sep 19, 2006 |
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11610615 |
Dec 14, 2006 |
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60793214 |
Apr 19, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/204 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 40/08 20130101;
G06Q 10/02 20130101; G06Q 10/063 20130101; H04M 3/42153 20130101;
H04M 3/56 20130101; H04M 3/4872 20130101; H04M 2203/352
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/204 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/16 20060101
G06F015/16 |
Claims
1. A system for collaboratively selecting a background musical
composition for concurrent play with voice communications
comprising: a plurality of portable communications devices, each
portable communication device comprising; a processor; a memory
coupled to the processor; a transceiver coupled to the processor
configured to at least exchange real-time voice communications with
at least another portable communication device; the real-time voice
communications comprising user vocalizations captured by a
microphone coupled to each portable communication device; an audio
processing subsystem coupled to the processor configured to audibly
output at least a portion of the exchanged real-time voice
communications in audible combination with a mutually perceivable
background musical stream; and, a collaborative music program
operatively loadable into the memory including instructions
executable by the processor to enable the collaborative selection
of a musical media file for generation of the mutually perceivable
background musical stream.
2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the collaborative
selection of a musical media file is performed by a sequential
selection of a musical media file by a plurality of users assigned
to an electronically moderated turn-taking progression.
3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the collaborative
selection of a musical media file is performed by a suggestion and
an acceptance arrangement in which a user electronically suggests a
musical media file through an interaction with a portable
communication device associated with the user and a different user
electronically accepts or rejects the suggested musical media file
through an interaction with another portable communication device
associated with the different user.
4. The system according to claim 2 wherein the sequential selection
of a musical media file occurs during a voice communications
exchange session.
5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the collaborative
selection of a musical media file is performed by an electronically
moderated vote of a plurality of users engaged in the exchange of
the real-time voice communications.
6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the collaborative
selection of a musical media file is performed by sequential
selection of a first musical media file from a first playlist of a
first user of a first portable communication device followed by a
selection of a second musical media file from a second playlist of
a second user of a second portable communication device.
7. The system according to claim 6 wherein the collaborative
selection of a musical media file is further performed during a
voice communications exchange session.
8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the collaboratively
selected musical media file when played is mutually perceivable in
approximate synchronicity among a plurality of users associated
with the plurality of portable communication devices.
9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the collaborative music
program further includes instructions to control an amplitude of
the mutually perceivable background musical stream such that the
exchanged real-time voice communications are intelligible to a
plurality users situated in cognizable proximity to each of the
plurality of portable communications devices.
10. The system according to claim 3 wherein the collaborative music
program further includes instructions executable by the processor
to generate a user cognizable alert when a collaborative input is
required to be entered into a portable communication device
associated with the user.
11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the collaborative
input is entered by a user interaction with a user interface
coupled to the portable communication device.
12. The system according to claim 1 wherein the collaboratively
selected musical media file is locally available to each of the
plurality of portable communications devices.
13. The system according to claim 1 wherein the collaboratively
selected musical media file is locally available to at least one of
the plurality of portable communications devices and remotely
available to at least another of the plurality of portable
communications devices.
14. The system according to claim 1 wherein the collaboratively
selected musical media file is remotely available to at least a
portion of the plurality of portable communications devices.
15. A method for collaboratively selecting a background musical
composition for concurrent play with voice communications
comprising: providing a plurality of portable communications
devices, each of the portable communication devices having a
processor, a memory, a transceiver and an audio processing
subsystem operatively coupled to the processor; configuring each
transceiver to at least exchange real-time voice communications
with at least another of the plurality of portable communication
devices, the real-time voice communications comprising user
vocalizations captured by a microphone coupled to each portable
communication device; configuring the audio processing subsystem of
each portable communication device to audibly output at least a
portion of the exchanged voice communications in audio combination
with a mutually perceivable background musical stream; and,
providing a collaborative music program operatively loadable into
the memory of at least one of the plurality of portable
communication devices, the program including instructions
executable by the processor to perform collaborative selection of a
musical media file for generation of the mutually perceivable
background musical stream.
16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the collaborative
music program further includes instructions for performing the
collaborative selection by enabling the sequential selection of one
or more musical media files by each of a plurality of users of
associated with each of the plurality of portable communication
devices, each of the plurality of users being assigned to an
electronically moderated turn-taking progression.
17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the collaborative
music program further includes instructions for performing the
collaborative selection by a user electronically suggesting a
musical media file through an interaction a portable communication
device associated with the user and a different user electronically
accepting or rejecting the suggested musical media file through an
interaction with a portable communication device associated with
the different user.
18. The method according to claim 15 wherein the collaborative
music program further includes instructions for performing the
collaborative selection by selecting a first musical media file
from a first playlist associated with a first portable
communication device followed by selecting a second musical media
file from a second playlist associated with a second portable
communication device.
19. A computer program product embodied in a tangible form
comprising instructions executable by a processor associated with a
portable communications device to programmatically perform a
collaborative selection of a musical media file for generation of a
mutually perceivable background musical stream in dependence on an
electronic representation of at least one user's selection and
audibly output the perceivable background musical stream in audio
combination with an exchanged real-time voice communications.
20. The computer program product according to claim 19 wherein the
tangible form is one of; a logical media, a magnetic media and an
optical media.
21. The computer program product according to claim 19 wherein the
collaborative selection is performed by a sequential selection of a
musical media file by a plurality of users assigned to an
electronically moderated turn-taking progression.
22. The computer program product according to claim 19 wherein the
collaborative selection is performed by a suggestion and acceptance
arrangement in which a user electronically suggests a musical media
file through an interaction with his or her portable communication
device and one or more other users electronically accept or reject
the suggested musical media file through an interaction with each
of their portable communication devices.
23. The computer program product according to claim 19 wherein the
collaborative selection of a musical media file is performed by an
electronically moderated vote of a plurality of the users engaged
in the real-time voice communication.
24. The computer program product according to claim 19 wherein the
collaborative selection of a musical media file is performed by
sequential selection of a first musical media file from a first
playlist of a first user of a first portable communication device
followed by the selection of a second musical media file from a
second playlist of a second user of a second portable communication
device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a non-provisional application claiming
benefit and priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) from co-pending
U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/793,214 filed on Apr. 19,
2006 to the instant inventor and a common assignee;
[0002] this application is also a continuation of co-pending U.S.
patent applications Ser. Nos. 11/223,368 filed on Sep. 9, 2005;
11/267,079 filed on Nov. 3, 2005; and 11/533,037 filed on Sep. 19,
2006 also to the instant inventor and the common assignee;
[0003] this application is also a related application to co-pending
foreign patent application PCT/US2006/004373 filed Feb. 7, 2006 and
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/285,534 filed on
Nov. 22, 2005 also to the instant inventor and the common assignee;
and;
[0004] all of the aforementioned patents applications are hereby
incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth
herein.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
[0005] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0006] Not Applicable
RELEVANT INVENTIVE FIELD
[0007] The present inventive embodiments relates generally to
portable communications devices and more specifically to portable
communications devices for concurrently sharing background musical
media experiences and performing telephony functions.
BACKGROUND
[0008] Cellular telephones have become popular portable
communication devices such that a user may easily engage in verbal
conversations with one or more other users over a communication
network through the exchange of real-time audio conversational
content. Electronic media players have also become popular personal
entertainment devices due to their highly portable nature and
interconnectivity with existing computer networks, for example the
Internet. The accessibility and simplicity in downloading music and
other electronic media continues to fuel the popularity of these
devices as is exemplified by Apple Computer, Inc.'s highly
successful iPod.TM. portable media player. Other manufacturers have
competing media players offering various functionalities and file
playing compatibilities in an effort to differentiate their
products in the marketplace.
[0009] As discussed in Apple Computer, Inc., patent application, US
2004/0224638 A1, Ser. No. 10/423,490 to Fadell, et al., which is
herein incorporated by reference in its entirety; an increasing
number of consumer products are incorporating circuitry to play
music and other electronic media. At the present time, cellular
telephones and portable media players have become integrated into a
common portable electronic that supports both telephony and media
file playing functionality.
[0010] In the relevant art, the integrated electronic device may
perform both functions but not at the same time; a user may talk on
the phone, or listen to music, but generally cannot do both
simultaneously for it would be disconcerting for one user to be
listening to music while conversing on the phone with another user
who was not listening to music.
[0011] Even more disconcerting would be if two users were each
listening to different pieces of music while they were
simultaneously holding a telephony conversation between them. As
such, a highly desirable feature would provide a plurality of users
who are engaged in a real-time voice communication telephony
conversation to be able to simultaneously listen to the same piece
of music with substantial synchronization of play. Furthermore it
would be highly desirable to provide the plurality of users who are
engaged in the real-time voice communication telephony
conversation, the electronically moderated ability to jointly
select the musical media content that they simultaneously listen to
during the voice conversation. This would provide for a shared
music-selection and music-listening experience among the
participants of the person-to-person remote voice communication
conversation.
[0012] Unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described
in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application
and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this
section.
SUMMARY
[0013] The various exemplary embodiments described herein address
the limitations in the relevant art and provides a system, method
and computer program product that provides simultaneous background
musical media listening experience and telephony among a plurality
of users by means of an integrated portable communications device
such as an intelligent cellular telephone. In an exemplary
systematic embodiment, a system is provided for collaborative
background musical media sharing in audio combination with
real-time voice communications. This exemplary systematic
embodiment comprises a plurality of portable communications
devices, in which each portable communication device includes a
processor, a memory coupled to the processor and a transceiver
coupled to the processor which is configured to at least exchange
real-time voice communications with at least another portable
communication device.
[0014] The real-time voice communications are comprised of user
vocalizations captured by a microphone coupled to each portable
communication device. An audio processing subsystem is coupled to
the processor and configured to audibly output at least a portion
of the exchanged real-time voice communications in audible
combination with a mutually perceivable background musical
stream.
[0015] A collaborative music program is provided and operatively
loadable into the memory. The program includes instructions
executable by the processor to enable the collaborative selection
of a musical media file for generation of the mutually perceivable
background musical stream.
[0016] In an exemplary methodic embodiment, a method for
collaboratively selecting a background musical composition for
concurrent play with voice communications is provided. This
exemplary methodic embodiment comprises, providing a plurality of
portable communications devices, each of the portable communication
devices having a processor, a memory, a transceiver and an audio
processing subsystem operatively coupled to the processor.
[0017] The exemplary methodic embodiment continues by configuring
each transceiver to at least exchange real-time voice
communications with at least another of the plurality of portable
communication devices, the real-time voice communications
comprising user vocalizations captured by a microphone coupled to
each portable communication device;
[0018] configuring each audio processing subsystem to audibly
output at least a portion of the exchanged voice communications in
audio combination with a mutually perceivable background musical
stream and providing a collaborative music program operatively
loadable into the memory of at least one of the plurality of
portable communication devices, the program including instructions
executable by the processor to perform collaborative selection of a
musical media file for generation of the mutually perceivable
background musical stream.
[0019] In an exemplary computer program product (CPP) embodiment, a
CPP is embodied in a tangible form which comprises instructions
executable by a processor associated with a PCD to programmatically
perform a collaborative selection of a musical media file for
generation of a mutually perceivable background musical stream in
dependence on an electronic representation of at least one user's
selection and audibly output the perceivable background musical
stream in audio combination with an exchanged real-time voice
communications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0020] The features and advantages of the various exemplary
embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed
description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Where possible, the same reference numerals and
characters are used to denote like features, elements, components
or portions of the various inventive embodiments. It is intended
that changes and modifications can be made to the described
embodiment without departing from the true scope and spirit of the
subject inventive embodiments as generally defined by the
claims.
[0021] FIG. 1--depicts a generalized and exemplary block diagram of
a portable communications device (PCD).
[0022] FIG. 2--depicts a detailed exemplary block diagram of voice
communications combined with collaborative background music
playback.
[0023] FIG. 3--depicts an exemplary block diagram of a plurality of
portable communications devices providing collaborative background
musical media sharing.
[0024] FIG. 4--depicts an exemplary process flow chart of the
various exemplary embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The various embodiments described herein comprise
communication arrangements in which a plurality of individual users
may verbally communicate with each other while listening to common
background musical media. The various embodiments are generally
comprised of a plurality of portable communication devices (PCD),
each of the PCDs being associated with at least one user and
connected by at least one communication network such that the users
of two or more PCDs may engage in verbal telephonic communications
while listening to the common background musical media.
[0026] In this way, a plurality of users may engage in a telephonic
communications while simultaneously listening to a common piece of
background music that is presented to each of the users in
approximate synchronicity through each of their respective PCDs. In
some embodiments, a common piece of visual content, such as video
media, may also be played to the plurality of user's in approximate
synchronicity. Where necessary, computer programs, routines and
algorithms are envisioned to be programmed in a high level
language, for example Java.TM. C++, C, C#, CORBA or Visual
Basic.TM..
[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, a generalized block diagram of a
portable communication device (PCD) 100 is depicted. The PCD 100
may be configured as a cellular telephone, personal digital
assistant, and/or portable media player. The PCD 100 may also be
head-worn, for example as a headset or earpiece.
[0028] The PCD 100 includes a communications infrastructure 90 used
to transfer data, memory addresses where data items are to be found
and control signals among the various components and subsystems of
the PCD 100. A processor 5 is provided to interpret and execute
logical instructions stored in the main memory 10. The main memory
10 is the primary general purpose storage area for instructions and
data to be processed by the processor 5. The main memory 10 is used
in its broadest sense and includes RAM, EEPROM and ROM. A timing
circuit 15 is provided to coordinate activities within the PCD 100.
The processor 5, main memory 10 and timing circuit 15 are directly
coupled to the communications infrastructure 90.
[0029] A display interface 20 is provided to drive a display 25
associated with the PCD 100. The display interface 20 is
electrically coupled to the communications infrastructure 90 and
provides signals to the display 25 for visually outputting both
graphics and alphanumeric characters. The display interface 20 may
include a dedicated graphics processor and memory to support the
displaying of graphics intensive media. The display 25 may be of
any type (e.g., cathode ray tube, gas plasma) but in most
circumstances will usually be a solid state device such as liquid
crystal display.
[0030] A secondary memory subsystem 30 is provided which houses
retrievable storage units such as a hard disk drive 35, a removable
storage drive 40, an optional logical media storage drive 45 and an
optional removal storage unit 50. The removable storage drive 40
may be a replaceable hard drive, optical media storage drive or a
solid state flash RAM device. The logical media storage drive 45
may be flash RAM device, EEPROM encoded with playable media, or
optical storage media (CD, DVD). The removable storage unit 50 may
be logical, optical or of an electromechanical (hard disk)
design.
[0031] A communications interface 55 subsystem is provided which
allows for standardized electrical connection of peripheral devices
to the communications infrastructure 90 including, serial,
parallel, universal serial bus (USB), Bluetooth, and Firewire
connectivity. A user interface 60 and a transceiver 65 are
electrically coupled to the communications infrastructure 90 via
the communications interface 55. For purposes of this disclosure,
the term user interface 60 includes the hardware, software and/or
firmware by which a user interacts with the PCD 100 and the means
by which the PCD 100 conveys information to the user and may
include the display 25.
[0032] The user interface 60 employed on the PCD 100 may include a
pointing device (not shown) such as a mouse, thumbwheel or track
ball, an optional touch screen (not shown); one or more pushbuttons
60A, 60B; one or more sliding or circular potentiometer controls
(not shown), one or more switches (not shown). One skilled in the
relevant art will appreciate that the user interface devices which
are not shown are well known and understood. To accommodate
non-standardized communications interfaces (i.e., proprietary), an
optional separate auxiliary interface 70 and auxiliary I/O port 75
are provided to couple proprietary peripheral devices to the
communications infrastructure 90.
[0033] The transceiver 65 facilitates the remote exchange of data
and synchronizing signals over a network 85 to which other PCDs 100
may be connected. The transceiver 65 is envisioned to be compatible
with at least one digital cellular communications standard, for
example GSM, 3G and evolving cellular communications standards.
Both peer-to-peer (PPP) and client-server models are envisioned for
implementation of the various embodiments. Alternatively, the
transceiver 65 may be of a radio frequency type normally associated
with computer networks for example, wireless computer networks
based on BlueTooth.TM. or the various IEEE standards 802.11x, where
x denotes the various present and evolving wireless computing
standards. In a third alternative embodiment, the transceiver 65
may include hybrids of computer communications standards, cellular
standards and evolving satellite radio standards.
[0034] An audio processing subsystem 95 is provided and
electrically coupled to the communications infrastructure 90. The
audio processing subsystem 95 is configured for the storage and
play of digital background musical media, for example, multi or
multimedia encoded in any of the exemplary formats MP3, AVI, WAV,
MPG, QT, WMA, AIFF, AU, RAM, RA, MOV, MIDI, etc. As referred to in
this specification, "background musical media" refers to video,
audio, streaming and any combination thereof. The audio processing
subsystem 95 includes a microphone input port 95A and a headphone
or speaker output port 95B. Connection of the microphone 95A and/or
headset 95B to the audio processing subsystem 95 includes both
traditional cable and wireless arrangements known in the relevant
art. In addition, the audio processing subsystem 95 is envisioned
to optionally include features such as graphic equalization,
volume, balance, fading, base and treble controls, surround sound
emulation, and noise reduction. One skilled in the relevant art
will appreciate that the above cited list of file formats is not
intended to be all inclusive.
[0035] In addition, the microphone 95A is configured such that it
may easily capture the user's voice when speaking normally as is
well known to the art of cellular phones. In some advanced
embodiments, the microphone 95A may be of a bone conducting type as
is known in the art associated with cellular telephony.
[0036] The PCD 100 includes an operating system, the necessary
hardware and software drivers necessary to fully utilize the
devices coupled to the communications infrastructure 90, including
software to support telephony functionality and software to support
media receipt, storage, and playback. In addition, each PCD 100
includes at least one collaborative background media program 200
(FIG. 2) operatively loadable into main memory 10. The
collaborative background media program 200 is configured to enable
a plurality of users of the PCDs 100 to engage in real-time
telephonic conversations over the communications network 85 while
jointly experiencing common background musical media. The
collaborative background media program 200 may optionally be
configured to provide automatic volume control of the amplitude of
the playing background musical media based upon the detected
presence of a voice stream from one or more of the users engaged in
the real-time telephonic conversation over the communications
network 85.
[0037] The collaborative background media program 200 is further
configured to allow one or more users to select the background
musical media to be played. In various exemplary embodiments, the
collaborative background media program 200 includes features to
allow a plurality of users, each using their own PCD 100, to
jointly select the background musical media to be played.
[0038] Such features may be enabled through an electronically
moderated turn-taking process in which the background musical media
205 selections are made based on media selections entered by one or
more users in a prescribed progression. For example, a first user
of a first PCD 100 may select a first musical media file for
background play, then a second user of a second PCD 100 may select
a second musical media file for background play, and so on, in a
cyclic and/or repeating turn-taking process moderated under
electronic control.
[0039] Alternately, such features may be enabled through an
electronically moderated playlist-combining process in which the
background musical media 205 selections are made based upon a
plurality of stored playlists, each of the stored playlists being
associated with a different PCD 100 engaged in the voice
communication session. For example, a first musical media file may
be selected based upon a first stored playlist associated with a
first PCD 100, then a second musical media file may be selected
based upon a second stored playlist on a second PCD 100, and so on,
in a cyclic and/or repeating turn-taking process that is moderated
under electronic control.
[0040] Alternatively, such features may be enabled through an
electronically moderated suggestion and acceptance process in which
the background musical media 205 selections are made based upon a
musical media suggestion entered by a first user into a first PCD
100 as well as based upon an acceptance and/or rejection response
entered by one or more other users into other PCD devices.
Optionally, the PCD 100 may also include at least one remote
authentication application, one or more cryptography applications
capable of performing symmetric and asymmetric cryptographic
functions, and secure messaging software.
[0041] FIG. 2 depicts various exemplary embodiments where real-time
voice communications are exchanged and combined with a background
musical media stream that has been collaboratively selected. In a
first exemplary embodiment, a first PCD 100A establishes a voice
communications 210AB, 210AC session with two other PCDs 100B, 100C
over a communications network 85. The communication network 85 may
be a peer-to-peer type arrangement using for example, using a
BlueTooth.TM. communications protocol. Alternately, the
communications network 85 may be provided using a WI-FI, cellular
and/or other broadband wireless network.
[0042] In this exemplary embodiment, a user in proximity of the
first PCD 100A is in real-time voice communications 210AB, 210BC
with two separate users in proximity to the second and third PCDs
100B, 100C. The collaborative background media program 200, each of
the users under a moderation of an electronic process, to agree on
a musical media file that is locally available from the datastores
30A, 30B, 30C coupled to the PCDs 100A, 100B, 100C. In this
exemplary embodiment, the background musical media stream 205A,
205B, 205C is generated locally at each of the PCDs 100, 100A, 100B
and only the voice stream 210AB, 210BC, 210AC is actually
transmitted over the network 85.
[0043] The collaboratively selected background musical media file
is synchronized for background play by sending timing signals over
the network 85. Each PCD 100A, 100A, 100B is synchronized using its
internal clock or counter 15A, 15B, 15C with the received
synchronizing signals sent as digital collaboration parameters
215AB, 215BC, 215AC.
[0044] The timing circuits 15A, 15B, 15C are used to ensure that
the background music stream 205AB, 205BC, 205AC is played in
approximate synchronicity among the PCDs 100A, 100A, 100B such that
each user is experiencing the same musical content
contemporaneously.
[0045] The determination of which common musical media file or
files to be background played may be accomplished using one or more
of a variety of electronically moderated collaborative processes,
for example, a turn-taking user selection process, a
playlist-combining process, and/or a user suggestion and acceptance
process. In a playlist combination process, the determination of
the common musical media file or files is accomplished by selecting
one or more media files from each of a plurality of local playlists
260A, 260B, 260C. This may be accomplished by exchanging the
digital collaborative parameters 215AB, 215BC, 215AC among the
participating PCDs 100A, 100B, 100C. In such a way, a plurality of
playlists 260A, 260B, 260C, each associated with a different
participating PCD, may be combined in an interlaced manner so as to
jointly direct the selection media items in the collaborative
background music stream. Alternately, a common playlist 260M may be
obtained from a networked media provider 100M and distributed to
each of the participating PCDs 100A, 100B, 100C. The distributed
playlist 260M includes the available musical media files that are
centrally retrievable 205M from a datastore 30M associated with the
media provider 100M.
[0046] In another related exemplary embodiment, the background
music stream 205AB, 205BC, 205AC is streamed 85S from a satellite
service 100S. A collaborative selection process is accomplished
using the collaborative background media program 200 which allows a
particular satellite channel to be jointly selected by
participating users and then streamed 85S among the participating
PCDs 100A, 100B, 100C. This may be accomplished, for example, by an
electronically moderated collaborative satellite 100S channel
selection process.
[0047] The collaborative background media program 200 may perform
background musical media selection several various electronically
moderated arrangements, including a collaborative vote arrangement,
a progressive turn-taking selection arrangement, an automated
background musical media file selection arrangement based upon the
stored preferences or histories of each of a plurality of users
and/or a suggestion and approval/rejection arrangement.
[0048] Exemplary musical media selection arrangements for
implementing the above described collaborative media selection
processes are described in co-pending US and PCT patent
applications Ser. Nos. 11/223,368, filed Sep. 9, 2005; 11/267,079
filed Nov. 3, 2005; 11/533,037 filed Sep. 19, 2006; 11/285,534
filed Nov. 22, 2005; and PCT/US2006/004373 filed Feb. 7, 2006; all
to the instant inventor and a common assignee and are hereby
incorporated by reference their entirety as if fully set forth
herein.
[0049] The collaborative voting arrangement may be provided by a
majority vote or weighted vote where one user has a greater
influence on the musical media file selection. In the progressive
turn taking selection arrangement, each user may be provided, under
electronic moderation, a turn to select a musical media file to be
played as a background music stream 205AB, 205BC, 205AC during the
voice communications 210AB, 210BC, 210AC. In this arrangement, the
electronically moderated selection process progresses to another
user following a selection. In the suggestion and
acceptance/rejection arrangement, one user may suggest file,
through an interaction with a user interface 60 associated with the
user's PCD 100A, a musical media file while one or more different
users may either accept or reject the suggestion by an analogous
interaction with each user's interface 60 associated with the
user's PCD 100B, 100C. If rejected, the suggesting user may suggest
an alternative musical media file.
[0050] In another exemplary embodiment, the collaborative
background media program 200 may automatically selects background
musical media files for play from among a plurality of available
background musical media files based upon electronically stored
user preferences. The user preferences may be individually stored
in memory of the PCDs 100A, 100B, 100C or upon the media provider
100M. Likewise, the automated selection process may execute on one
of the PCDs 100A, 100B, 100C.
[0051] In an exemplary embodiment, a consolidated playlist (not
shown) may be automatically generated by selecting media items from
each of a plurality of local playlists 260A, 260B, 260C and
electronically distributing the consolidated playlist to each of
the PCDs 100A, 100B, 100C as part of a digital collaborative
parameter exchange 215AB, 215BC, 215AC. In this exemplary
embodiment, the musical media file selections made from the
consolidated playlist which are not local to one or more of the
PCDs 100A, 100B, 100C may be played locally at one of the PCDs and
streamed over the network 85 to each PCD lacking a local copy of
the selected musical media file. The combined real-time voice
communications and background musical media stream 250AB, 250BC,
250AC is transmitted over the network 85 to the PCDs in a duplex
mode which allows users to speak as if in a typical telephone
conversation. Alternately, a temporary copy of the musical media
file selected for background play may be distributed over the
network 85 so that all PCDs 100A, 100B, 100C have the selected
musical media files for background music play.
[0052] In another alternate exemplary embodiment, the background
musical media stream 205AB, 205BC, 205AC, is sent over one type of
wireless communications network and the voice stream 210AB, 210BC,
210AC is sent over a second wireless communications network, for
example, WI-FI and cellular telephone networks 85. In this
exemplary embodiment, the collaborative background media program
200 may be programmed to control the amplitude level of the
background musical media stream 205AB, 205BC, 205AC based on the
detection of a voice stream being detected on the second network.
The voice stream 210AB, 210BC, 210AC may be comprised of any audio
data captured by a vocal microphone 95A coupled to the PCD 100, or
may be specifically detected if within the normal voice range of
300-3,000 Hertz.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 3, the collaborative background media
program 200 interactively monitors the signal processing being
accomplished by the audio processing subsystem 95. When a voice
stream 210 is identified by the collaborative background media
program 200, the collaborative background media program 200 signals
the audio processing subsystem 95 to attenuate the background
musical media stream 205 from a normal amplitude level L1 220 to a
reduced amplitude level L2 225 for the duration T1 215 of the
identified voice stream 210. The background musical media stream
205 remains at the attenuated level L2 225 until allowed by the
collaborative background media program 200 to resume the nominal
playback amplitude level L1 220. The time duration T1 215 for
attenuating the amplitude level L2 225 of the background musical
media stream 205 may be set to account for pauses between words,
phrases or sentences.
[0054] In addition, the transition time T2 217 between the
attenuated amplitude levels L2 225 to the normal amplitude level L1
220 may be set to allow for a variable ramp up in amplitude level
L3 230. The ramp up amplitude level L3 230 allows the background
level amplitude to be gradually restored to the nominal playback
amplitude level L1 220 to minimize disturbing the user. The various
time durations T1 215 and T2 217 may be controlled by a voice
activated switch (VOX) circuit (not shown) coupled to the
microphone 95A of the user or may be more generally controlled by a
processor 5 of the PCD 100 performing voice signal detection and
background music attenuation routines.
[0055] In an exemplary embodiment, the receipt of the incoming
digital collaboration parameters 215, may be used to trigger an
alert 235 to the user by providing a visual, tactile and/or audible
alarm The alert 235 may be used to prompt a user to accept, reject,
or vote upon a background musical media suggested by another user.
The alert may include a visual and/or aural display of the title(s)
and/or artist(s) of the one or more suggested background musical
media selections. Furthermore the alert may include a display of
the name, handle, or unique ID of the user(s) who suggested the one
or more background musical media selections. Details of such
suggesting, alerting, and accepting/rejecting processes are
described in co-pending US and PCT patent applications Ser. Nos.
11/223,368, filed Sep. 9, 2005; 11/533,037 filed Sep. 19, 2006;
11/285,534 filed Nov. 22, 2005; and PCT/US2006/004373 filed Feb. 7,
2006; all to the instant inventor and a common assignee and are
hereby incorporated by reference their entirety as if fully set
forth herein. The alert 235 may require a user to input a response
via the user interface 60 coupled to the PCD 100.
[0056] The digital collaborative parameters 215 exchanged among the
PCDs 100A, 100B, 100C may include additional information including
other timing information, PCD settings (e.g., volume, tone,
equalization, reference time, counter variable), request to
transfer background musical media selection to one of the other
collaborating PCDs, individual identification and/or authentication
information.
[0057] One skilled in the art will appreciate that references made
in this specification to messaging, signaling, communicating,
transmitting, sending, receiving, submitting suggesting,
exchanging, notifying, alerting, voting, etc. should be construed
in light of the relevant art regarding digital communications, such
as communications involving data transfer from one computer to
another through a communications medium without regard to a
particular format, data structure or communications protocol.
[0058] Referring to FIG. 4, a process flow chart is depicted which
provides an exemplary method for implementing the various inventive
embodiments described herein. The process is initiated 400 by
providing a collaborative background media program 405. The program
includes instructions executable by a processor associated with a
PCD to transceive in real-time voice communications over a
communications network, combine a background musical stream with
the real-time voice communications, and audibly output the combine
voice communications and background music media stream to each
user. The collaborative background media program 405 also includes
routines for computer moderated collaborative selection of one or
more media files that comprise the content of the background
musical stream.
[0059] The collaborative background media program 405 may
optionally control the amplitude of the background musical media
stream such that the audibly output voice communications is
intelligible to a user situated in cognizable proximity to another
portable communications device (PCD.)
[0060] The collaborative background media program is loaded into
the memory of a PCD 410 and a connection with another PCD is
established over at least one communications network 415.
[0061] Once a real-time voice communications session is established
between two or more PCDs, the collaborative selection of background
musical media to be played is performed 420. Collaborative
selection may be accomplished by a plurality of mechanisms
including but not limited to selecting background musical media
from each of a plurality of user playlists to generate the
background musical media stream 425. In some such exemplary
embodiments, only media items that are locally available within the
memories of each of the plurality of PCDs are automatically
selected for collaborative play.
[0062] In an alternative arrangement, the background musical media
stream is accomplished collaboratively among the users 430 through
a electronically moderated collaborative music selection process.
For example, the collaborative selection may be accomplished using
a sequential turn-taking progression among the users 435, by
performance of a collaborative vote 440 of the plurality of users,
and/or by collaborative suggestion and acceptance/rejection 445
among the plurality of users, as described previously.
[0063] In an embodiment, collaboration is accomplished by
exchanging digital collaboration parameters among the various PCDs.
The receipt of the digital collaborative parameters may cause an
alert to be locally generated 450. The alert may be tactile,
audible, visual and/or any combination thereof 455.
[0064] The background musical media stream is audibly output along
with the exchanged real-time voice communications. The background
musical media stream is audibly output such that each user may
mutually perceive the background musical stream in approximate
synchronicity 460. In an optional embodiment, the collaborative
background media program varies an amplitude of the background
musical media stream in real-time in response to changes in the
voice communication stream to ensure that the voice communications
conveyed between the PCDs are intelligible above the continuing
background musical media stream.
[0065] If the users decide to end the collaborative background
musical session, the collaborative background media program is
terminated which ends the session 475. Alternately, the process
repeats by providing another collaborative background musical media
selection session 420 as described above.
[0066] The foregoing described exemplary embodiments are provided
as illustrations and descriptions. They are not intended to limit
an inventive scope to any precise form described. In particular, it
is contemplated that functional implementation of the instrument
accompaniment program described herein may be implemented
equivalently in hardware, software, firmware, and/or other
available functional components or building blocks. Other
variations and embodiments are possible in light of above
teachings, and it is not intended that this Detailed Description
limit the scope of inventive embodiments, but rather by the Claims
following herein.
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